Since the Royal British Legion was founded in 1921, our members, staff, volunteers and partners have dedicated their time and effort to supporting the Armed Forces community and remembering their sacrifice.
To mark our 100th birthday, we launched the Reward and Recognition scheme where everyone across the RBL family was invited to nominate people who deserved to be recognised for their significant contributions to our work.
The awards recognise the outstanding actions of individuals in five categories; service, collaboration, passion, excellence and valuing our people.
From the moment we launched the scheme, the nominations came flooding in and after a robust check on the quality and standard of submissions, we were left with over 400 tales of inspiration and determination from groups and individuals across the organisation, all of whom are equally deserving of recognition in our Centenary year.
Here we celebrate the contributions of our amazing RBL People who have helped to make our organisation the fantastic place that it is. Search by name or use the filters below to explore the nominees.
Kay Ratcliff
Kay Ratcliff
Kay has been a member of Cork Branch in Ireland since 1972 and ran the ladies’ committee for many years; she organised the Ladies’ Poppy Fund, including a charity lunch that raised money for the Poppy Appeal through raffles and donations. She is a committed member who works diligently behind the scenes providing refreshments for many branch events, including the AGM, and for members attending the Remembrance parade at Cork City’s Cenotaph.
Nicola Hall
Nicola Hall
For 20 years, Nicola has worked tirelessly to support the Fundraising team in many different roles. She developed the Little Remembrance Cross initiative from humble beginnings into the hugely successful campaign that it is today, doubling income and bringing together many supporters who had lost loved ones in service. She later set up the Legacy marketing team, introducing new will-writing initiatives that have led to more than 10,000 new legacy pledges and enquiries.
Daniel O'Sullivan
Daniel O'Sullivan
Army veteran Daniel volunteers at the Battle Back Centre after undergoing treatment there for serious injury. He talks to RBL staff about the courses and facilities available so they can go on to advocate for the Centre and share information as part of their welfare support. Daniel is an excellent ambassador for Battle Back, giving a witty and engaging presentation explaining how service personnel and veterans are helped to overcome their physical and mental challenges.
Sandra Fishlock
Sandra Fishlock
Sandra is, among many other roles, the Women's Section (WS) Treasurer. In 2019, she took over the administration of WS donations and devised a much better system for registering them, which eliminated confusion and greatly improved the service provided to WS branches. In an environment of disagreement and even disappointment, she comes up with solutions not problems and has fostered the development of stronger, more effective relationships within the WS.
Fiona George
Fiona George
As Poppy Appeal Organiser for the Evesham Branch, Fiona and her team of volunteers have raised record amounts over the past years, ensuring the Appeal is in the public eye by decorating the town with the poppy symbol and building connections with the local council and business community. She brings energy and enthusiasm to all her fundraising activities, which have included a cycle ride to Paris.
Jaguar Land Rover
Jaguar Land Rover
A long-time supporter of the RBL in the West Midlands, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) goes beyond fundraising to give special people wonderful experiences. JLR has employed more than 1,000 ex-Service personnel globally since 2014 and has an internal employee Armed Forces Community Network, chaired by Sarah Pylyp. In 2019, JLR arranged for 15 of their employees from the network to pick up D-Day veterans from their homes in a Jaguar or Land Rover and take them to the National Memorial Arboretum for the 75th anniversary commemorations.
Alex Page
Alex Page
For nine years, Alex supported Annette Dando as a point of contact between the British Army and the RBL for London Poppy Day (LPD), and was one of the founding supporters of the event from its conception. She was invaluable in championing the Poppy Appeal and LPD across the British Army and actively recruiting service personnel to attend. She also used her time and expertise to regularly advise the LPD Executive Committee.
Lorraine Bobby
Lorraine Bobby
Veterans in the Londonderry area have got together and made new friends, people who've needed help have received it, countless functions have run smoothly, and lives have been immeasurably improved thanks to Lorraine, who until last year was Chair of Waterside Branch Community Support, and has a 30-year involvement with the RBL. She exemplifies service before self: thanks to her compassion and work ethic, she has excelled in her role.
Penny Pope
Penny Pope
Case Officer Penny puts service before self in everything she does, demonstrating compassion for all those she comes into contact with. In 2017, she took on the role of Mentor to all the other Case Officers and Advice and Information Officers in the team; she has also been Mentor Case Officer for the London team since 2020. She is endlessly patient, encouraging and creative in solving the problems put in front of her.
Denise Goodwin
Denise Goodwin
As Wellbeing Manager at Galanos House and Poppy Lodge, Denise has ensured residents stay occupied and engaged throughout the pandemic. She and her team have helped them maintain their interests, supported them in a digital cycling challenge and encouraged them to make parcels for their families with cards, photos and more. They have also filled the Facebook group with photos and messages to reassure families their loved ones are happy and safe.
Andrew Cook
Andrew Cook
The Christchurch Branch of the RBL in Dorset nearly folded in 2018/19, but Andrew was instrumental in reviving it through a mix of business acumen and collaboration with other organisations offering support to ex-service personnel, to create a local 'hub'. Working with clergy at Christchurch Priory to pre-record a Remembrance service so everyone could take part virtually on the day is indicative of his creative approach to keeping branch activities going during Covid-19 lockdowns.
Bea Rigby
Bea Rigby
The Poppy Appeal Organiser for Nantwich in Cheshire, Bea has overcome many challenges to raise almost £500,000 since she took charge in 2011. She leads 90+ volunteers; liaises with supermarkets, shops, pubs, care homes and schools to ensure they can contribute; and works with BAE Systems, which lends its support for counting. She has also been instrumental in the branch’s partnership with Jedburgh Branch in Scotland, as they support each other’s fundraising events.
Terry Dix
Terry Dix
As Chairman of the Two Gates & Wilnecote District Branch in Staffordshire for many years, Terry has drawn on his local political connections to keep the RBL in the public eye, and has organised high-profile Remembrance and Battle of Britain parades, plus wreath-laying to local man Colin Grazier, whose heroic actions changed the course of the Second World War. His affiliation of the branch with the local ATC Squadron will ensure continuity through future generations.
Peter Hastings
Peter Hastings
Peter has been President since 2001 and Acting Secretary since 2008 of the Market Weighton Branch in East Yorkshire. He has made an outstanding contribution by organising the annual Remembrance parade and service to an exceptionally high standard, involving all local youth organisations, the Fire Brigade and Police, with the Deputy Lord Lieutenant in attendance every year. Through his efforts, the branch is held in the highest esteem by the local community and beyond.
Vikkie Massey
Vikkie Massey
Advice & Information Team Leader Vikkie works hard to ensure her team is the best it can be. She encourages others to grow and learn, offering opportunities to develop both within the team and beyond, and setting up informal weekly learning sessions where staff can ask questions and get support. Vikkie always acknowledges good work while offering constructive feedback to help team members deliver a better service in future.
Claire Chesters
Claire Chesters
Full-time nurse Claire is the dedicated Poppy Appeal Organiser for Chester. In 2020, determined to do what she could to raise money despite Covid-19 restrictions, she liaised with the council to ensure that collecting could go ahead safely on two Saturdays in the city centre. The public was hugely supportive and positive – many saying it was good to see the poppy – and the team raised almost £2,000 in cash on the first day alone.
Gordon Michie
Gordon Michie
As Head of Fundraising, Gordon led the Fundraising team at Poppyscotland to deliver an incredible Poppy Appeal, despite the restrictions imposed by the pandemic. He introduced innovative online-donation opportunities, including JustGiving pages for each of the volunteer Area Organisers and QR codes on poppy boxes to allow cashless donations. His can-do attitude, enthusiasm and determination are the driving force behind the Fundraising team’s success.
Ian Bell
Ian Bell
Ian inherited a difficult situation when he stepped in as Nottinghamshire County Treasurer just before lockdown in 2020, but he has worked tirelessly to untangle accounts and put processes in place to ensure they are accurate. He has also supported several branches, coming up with constructive solutions after identifying problems. Submission rates are now 100% and for the first time in a number of years, County accounts can be presented to Haig House with confidence.